This training did not have tapes or kites in the forest. Already on the way to the first control I was thinking that this training...

This training did not have tapes or kites in the forest. Already on the way to the first control I was thinking that this training would be nearly impossible but then I came to a knoll on my compass and realised there was a depression behind it like I was expecting for the first control! So I decided to try the contour-only for a few more controls... in the end I stayed on the contour-only until control 24 when I needed to find a path back to the car. The training went surprisingly ok - though I was running very slowly! I had some difficulty on control 12 but managed to work it out. However it seems that I went to the wrong depression for 15 without realising. It felt to me that the form-line contours around 18 required a bit of imagination and I had to go back to convince myself that I had been in the correct place. Controls 19-24 felt really tough because they were all partly in the green or very rough open and without the paths or vegetation on the map I couldn't really avoid it. Another good training: total of 5h45 and 40km of orienteering training this weekend :)

Race-like training with emit and startlist (Jukola test for the guys). I had quite a lot of difficulty on the first control! I thi...

Race-like training with emit and startlist (Jukola test for the guys). I had quite a lot of difficulty on the first control! I think the problem was that my picture of the control circle did not match what I saw on the ground. It seemed very strange to me. Even though I knew I'd lost more than 4minutes already on the 1st control, I tried to keep fighting. I took a safer option on 2 by going to the better visibility. Controls 3- 6 went ok and I built up some confidence again. On 7 I decided to take the route choice to the left and I think it was faster. 8 &9 went fine but I didn't have the best route on 10. I think it was much better to take the path route to the right. (Control 11 was not on the women's course). I also lost some time on my route choice to control 14. It was much faster to go straight. Even though I didn't have the best feeling on this training I think it gave a lot of insight about the best route choices for this terrain type and I could at least take some confidence from being able to put the mistake behind me and keep fighting.

This training was also without kites or tapes in the forest. Again my main focus was to keep good focus, map contact and compass. ...

This training was also without kites or tapes in the forest. Again my main focus was to keep good focus, map contact and compass. It went well on the whole and I really enjoyed it. I was a bit unsure approaching 7 and think it would have helped if I had a better picture of the control circle in my head.

Focusing on good compass and map contact. No tapes or flags at the control sites. Went well in the beginning and managed to keep a...

Focusing on good compass and map contact. No tapes or flags at the control sites. Went well in the beginning and managed to keep a high focus, even in the green part 12-16. I lost a bit of focus on 17-18 but managed to pull it together again for 19-27. I was getting a bit tired by controls 28&29 and had poor direction and difficulty understanding the contours. Overall it was a positive training and I had a good feeling for most of the course. The terrain feels quite similar to some Scottish terrain in the Cairngorms area.

Another hot day! Good to get another good LD training done :) Really enjoyed it even though I was seriously gasping for a drink so...

Another hot day! Good to get another good LD training done :) Really enjoyed it even though I was seriously gasping for a drink so much! Was so tempted to jump into the lake between controls 24 & 25 but when I got there it was way too shallow haha. Overshot by quite a lot on #3 and also managed to do a bit of a 90deg error half way to 13 but the rest went reasonably well.